Surface processes on lutetium oxide thin films doped with europium at different concentrations

Abstract

The surface properties of Lu2O3 thin films doped with different concentrations of Eu3+ prepared by PLD technique were investigated. Thermally stimulated desorption (TSD) and thermally stimulated exoelectron emission (TSEE) methods were used to investigate the surface properties of this material. A comparison was also made between the as prepared material and the same material processed by pulsed laser annealing. The most pronounced TSEE maximum is shown at T ∼120 °C and also at T ∼270 °C. This is due to the release of atomic Oat at the edges, apexes and other imperfections of the crystallites for the lower temperature. At the higher temperature the decomposition of the material itself already starting - especially at the locations where Eu3+ is present. These TSD maxima correspond to the maxima of Eu and EuO in particular. In order to describe the processes of desorption, emission of electrons and negative ions as accurately as possible, the measured curves were decomposed using an inhouse software developed by our group.